Homegrown hero Gabby Agbonlahor has said his Aston Villa colleagues are ‘not kidding themselves’ it will be easier to end their dismal winless run against Spurs.

Villa have failed to register a victory and even score a goal for five games. But today’s opponents Spurs are also in the middle of a disappointing spell, losing at home to Premier League strugglers Newcastle and the Baggies in recent weeks.

Despite having the majority of the possession in Monday’s 2-0 defeat at QPR, Villa were hit by two sucker punches from Charlie Austin which secured victory for Harry Redknapp’s strugglers.

Agbonlahor said: “Spurs are a quality side. If you look at their team and the money they have spent – it’s crazy.

“Look at the strength in depth and players they have on the bench. We are not going to kid ourselves and think it’s easy. It’s going to be a really tough game. With the fans on our side and everyone working 100 per cent we can get a result.” The 28-year-old forward, who joined Villa from school and recently penned a new four-year deal, pledged Paul Lambert’s men were doing everything they could to stop firing blanks and denied their performances were too negative.

“We have played a lot of tough games but it’s still not a nice record to have. So we will be giving everything we have got to put it right against Spurs.

“When we started the season so well and were second in the league I always said enjoy it and don’t get carried away.

“Enjoy whilst we are there and when its going bad you don’t get too down.

“At QPR before we conceded they never had a touch. We had chances as well.

“We are playing well in games and not getting results. When you look at the schedule and the results they have been really tough games.

“I think against QPR if we didn’t concede the goals when we did, it would have been a different game and we would have got some joy from how we started the game. It would have kept everyone on a high.

“On Monday we went out to attack them. The midfielders were told to go forward as well and the full backs – so it is not as if we are sitting back and trying to get a 0-0. We are trying to attack teams and have not had the rub of the green.

“The next few games we will get that bit of luck and even if it’s a goal off a corner it will get that goal that everyone is talking about. I think we will be fine.

He denied angry words had been exchanged in a locked dressing room after the depressing defeat at Loftus Road, but admitted there had been discussions about the performance.

“Everyone was disappointed after that game. We were looking to win because of where QPR are in the table and where we are.

“Everyone was disappointed. It was about everyone just speaking about how they could do better for the next game and we are looking forward to it to try to put it right. There were no angry words or anything.”

He said he was not too worried about his personal lack of success in front of goal this year. He has netted just twice this season.

Agbonlahor explained: “I’ve played some different positions but if you look at the chances against QPR they could have gone in.

“The chances against Everton could have gone in. They are not going in at the moment. But I think they will do.

“You don’t forget overnight as a team to score goals. As much as they are not going in, you just have to play your normal game. And then the goals will come like they always do.”

The striker insisted he always intended to commit his future to Villa Park and remain an integral part of the set-up.

“I was always going to sign no matter what else could have happened. For me it was the chance to stay at this club for another four years I was always going to take it.

“Why move from a club as big as Aston Villa when we are not a million miles away from being back up there?

Having a scary day at Acorns

Local lad Gabby Agbonlahor is as passionate about his ambassadorial role with Birmingham’s Acorns Children’s Hospice as he is about his football.

The striker has been involved with the Selly Oak unit for several years and took team-mates Leandro Bacuna and Matt Lowton to help youngsters create Halloween decorations.

He said: “Acorns puts into perspective what the kids have got to go through. It gives them a lift and it gives us a lift as well. I think the players enjoy coming to these places.

“We like to give something back. As much as the football is important you have got to do other things in the community as well. We can do things like this and help the kids and put a smile on their face for a couple of hours.”

He even welcomed the friendly banter from young fans who asked him about Villa’s five-game winless run without scoring a goal.

He added: “You can’t be too serious. When you don’t get the results we get it from all directions – even the kids here.”

Acorns offers a network of care and support to children who have life limiting or life threatening conditions and their families, at its hospices in Birmingham (Selly Oak), Walsall and Worcester, and through its community team who offer support at home. Children can stay at the hospices for short breaks, emergency and end-of-life care. The community team give support to the family 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

There is no charge for Acorns’ service but running costs stand at £7,500 per day per hospice that’s £750 per bed. The charity relies on voluntary income for the majority of the funding required to run its care services.